The trash heap to treasure photo dump...

I needed to "dump" some of the photos on my phone...I find things on it sometimes I am not sure about...and treasure every one.

A "selfie" by my sweet teenager...she was bald until she was three. I love her.

 Nate's dog, Luka, was getting a bath and I am SURE Thunder the kitten was mocking him! 

I love Nate's apartment... it is cute.

My kids LOVE to spray Reddi Wip DIRECTLY in their mouths - so, Aunt Lois got them all their OWN Reddi Wip in their Christmas Goodie stocking! A HUGE hit.

I love this pic - Rue chasing Gizzie...she gets SO annoyed with him.

The donations are POURING in for the new shoppe and keeping me hoppin!

These Knuckle heads make me laugh.

Kitten SWEETNESS.

Love this photo of my cousins Clint and Caleb with Mitchell. It has been an awesome season watching them play ball together. 

I am NO photographer but I love taking photos to remember all the sweet (and NOT so sweet)

 moments! ENJOY your weekend!

Fullness of Joy

I attended a funeral today.

The funeral of an 85 year old man who is part of a "sister" family to my mother's large family. A man I admired and respected. Our large family grew up alongside his large family. It is bitterly cold but the sun shone brilliantly upon the snow...a gift to his family.

The funeral was held in the beautiful, old church that I frequented as a child but have not been in for many years. It was a joy for me to be there and be a part of the celebration of his life. I sat in that church many Sundays as a child holding the old, gnarled hand of my Mamaw. It is filled with warm memories that bring tears to my eyes.

Hearing and singing along to the old gospel songs....with piano and guitar as accompaniment...
listening to the "Praise God!" and the "Amens" of various attendees was so familiar and dear.

It is and was a cultural and spiritual experience that has left so many churches today. 

A refreshing reminder to me that God is present. God is working. God is hope.

Yep...I am one of them now...

I have always claimed I do NOT like little dogs. They bark and yap and in my experience it is the LITTLE dogs that end up biting. Give me an 80 pound Golden Retriever any day!

Bob and I text back and forth throughout the day and I sent him THIS PHOTO the other day:

And then....it HIT me...
You see I was on my way to pick up the little kids from school...and of course, sweet Rue wanted to come with me...
and I  put him in his little coat...
yes...I said coat...
and talked baby talk to him about going "Bye Bye" with me
and it just hit me....
I am one of THOSE people now...I am one of them...
I may even need to buy a LARGE purse/satchel and stuff his furry body down in it and go shopping.

Well,

maybe not...

The Little Shoppe

I have taken on an enormous new project. Although racked with problems, obstacles and many naysayers it has been a work of joy on my part. I have met MANY new people and faced many new challenges in an area I have NO expertise. It was a stretch from the start but a good stretch for this control freak chick. We started with quite a nasty MESS. An ancient building needing MUCH repair and NO money.

We have opened a tiny second hand shoppe that benefits our little community. Everything is for sale...but the BEST part is that we meet the needs of those who have little or nothing as well as those who have a love for second hand shopping. Many folks come in simply to sit and chat, drink a cup of fresh coffee and nibble a home made cookie never buying a single thing.

I love to see the people who have NEVER bought a second hand item in their lives...it is hard to walk in the door...but the moment they find a treasure that speaks to them I can see them smile and I know they will be back! We even have a dressing room (thanks to my wonderful Dad.) You can see my new friend Rebecca and I trying it out below!

My favorite story so far is a single mom who was struggling and her kids needed Sunday "dress up" clothes for the Christmas concert. Specific things...two dresses, shoes for two darling girls, a spiffy outfit for a  little boy...and as we looked about the shoppe...we had the RIGHT items in stock AND they were festive and magical JUST what the little ones (and their sweet Momma) wanted for their concert.

My passion for this project has taken up much of my blogging time but I will still be around here and there and certainly look forward to visiting all of you!

Various and Sundry

Two very good guys helping their Dad with a bit of shoveling! IT SURE WAS COLD and GRAY!

Nate breaks things...it is a regular thing for him to ask me to fix something for him. He loves this water bottle that he dropped and broke. I am outta super glue...looking for something to glue it up with...Bob will CROAK when he sees this photo...NEVER underestimate the fixing power of Jute String and Duct Tape!

I step on Legos at least ONCE a day...they hurt if you are in bare feet. Now, that we have added a little Papillon to our house...I am now stepping on his toys which he REFUSES to leave in his tidy little toy basket!

 

All the Christmas decorations are put away except our Christmas Book Box...I cannot EVER get enough of the Christmas stories. We add one to our collection every year. This year it was

  The Gingerbread Pirates

and it is a GREAT one!

See this blanket? It is FRESHLY washed. Our home is blessed with LOTS of cozy, soft blankets...but for some reason the kids are attracted to THIS one...it is belongs to Bob and I. We do not smear nasty things on it...sneeze on it, eat on it, drag it all over the house...leave it on the floor for the pets...GET THE PICTURE? So I will do a photo RECORD of what it looks like...fresh and clean. 

 KIDS...back away from that blanket!

I love Chicks and Hens. The pot I had on the porch did not do well this year...but when I brought it inside in the fall it has just gotten HAPPY. 

Maddie loves "projects" but is famous for leaving messes after completing her work. Hmmm, came home to paint all over the sink and Phoebe (the calico) cleaning up... 

Have a GREAT weekend!

Yes I know....it is COLD.

Cold and snow are dominating all conversation, news and social media to the extreme! After having two weeks off for Christmas my kids are STILL pleased to get "the call" saying that school is cancelled due to inclement weather.

I for one, am thankful for another couple of days to finish all the projects that I procrastinated doing over what SEEMED like a LONG break with plenty of TIME to get it ALL done.

The suspension of SCHEDULE, APPOINTMENTS, WORK, PRACTICES and BALL GAMES - - the daily rat race due to weather is....

A GIFT.

Over the last 18 days...while I procrastinated over the "TO DO LIST" I got to to play games, bake cookies and other holiday delectables, run around, go to parties, spend qaultiy time with my favorite people...I even got to enjoy lots of good movies and read long anticipated books while snuggled up to my sweet husband.

I am grateful for a WARM house and content kids to have for the best of company.


Stay warm friends.

The good life...

2013 ended in a whirlwind and started in a whirlwind and it is GOOD.

Papillon Fun...

I wanted ONE good photo of Sam before his Christmas Musical...

 Quality time with the people I love most...

We attended AMAZING concerts and enjoyed each one.

We wish YOU a wonderful year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

We have a few SHORT days left till back to work and school...see you next week!